Drive mechanism for electric locomotives



1 1,645272Y oct. 11,1927. RLALBEN DRIVE MECHANISM Fon ELECTRIC LocoMoTIvEs Filed March 1. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INV ENTOR /frarl/r L /7/156/7. BY

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0t., 11,1927. F. L. ALBEN l DRIVE MEGHANISM Foa ELECTRIC lrJocoMoTIvEs Filed March 1. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet, 2

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QD O D (u WITNESSES: INVENTOR Patented Get. 11, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT erica.

FRANK L. ALBEN, Ol WELKINSBURG,"PENNSYLVANIA, SSGNORTO VESTINGr-IOUSE ELECTRIC 8c MANUFACTURING CGMA Y, A CORPORATON OF PENNSYLVANIA.

DRIVE IVIECHANSM FOR ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVES.

Application led March 1, 1924.

My invention relates to railway vehicles, more particularly to a method of mounting a drive mechanism of electric locomotives.

1t is among the objects of my invention to provide a lateral restraining device for vehicles which will maintain the axle With Which it is associated parallel with other axles, when the vehicle is operating on straight or tangent track.

1t is still another object ot my invention to provide a lateral restraining device, so that positive steering will be effected, When the locomotive is operating on a curved track for the purpose ot centering the locomotive when approaching normal operation on tangent track.

It is still another object of my invention to adapt the front pair of driving wheels to the purpose of steering the locomotive around curves, and causing the iront drivers to act as a leading truck.

It is a still further object ot my invention to provide a restraining device ot the aboveindicated character which shall be readily adapted to be used upon the vehicle Without requiring special construction of the vehicle body and which shall function etliciently i'or the purpose set forth above.

1n railway vehicles of the type where the side frame members are dispensed With, the

motors are usually secured to a longitudinal girder constituting the vehicle frame by supporting one end kot the motor frame on the drive axles and suspending the other end of the motor from the girder member. Generally the motors are pivotally mounted on the girderto permit vertical movement ot the Wheel axles relative to the frame, which is usually spring-borne on the Wheel axles.

In the accompanying drawing constituting a part hereof and in which like reference characters designate like parts:

Fig. 1 is a vien7 in side elevation ot a fragmentary portion of a front or rear end of a vehicle7 embodying the principles of my invention,

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof taken along the line Il-I ot Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a plan view, partially in section, of a portion of the restraining mechanism, and

Fig. 4 is a view in cross-section of the Wearing shoe or slide member which eitects Serial No. 696,176.

co-operative engagementV of the restraining device With the motor housing.

Referring to Fig. l, the vehicle therein illustrated comprises a longitudinal center' trame l having vertically depending portions 2 and 3 that are provided With means for journalling the frame upona plurality of Wheel axlesv 4. A vehicle body 5 is supported on the frame 1 and a dravvbar 6 having a coupling member 7 is provided in the end of the frame in the usual manner. A pilot 8 is secured to the under side of the trame 1 in vany suitable manner.

Each of a plurality of motors -10 has one end 'of its trame journalled upon one of the axles 4 While the other end 11 is universally supported upon the corresponding depending web portion 2 of the vehicle, to permit universal movement 'of the motor and Wheel axles relative to the trame 1Q An equalizing system', comprising" the usual springs 30,

links 31 and equalizing levers 32, is provided tor supporting the Weight of the frame 1 and the vehicle body 5 on the Wheel axles 4. The equaliZing-levers 32 are provided With bearing plates 33 that cooperate with bearing pads 34 mounted the Wheel vaxles 4 on the trames of the motors 10 in such manner that the plates 33 are free to slide upon the pads 3 4. Because of the sliding engagement of the bearing plates and pads, the end axles and motors are Atree to'Y pivot inV a horizontal plane about the universally connected end v11. This method of mounting the motors adapts the end driving Wheels to act as guide trucks for the'locomotive. The journalled ends of the motors are each provided With an extension bracket l2, the end of which has a trun-` uion member 137 Fig. 4, formed integrally therewith`l which is adapted to be rotatably mounted in avblock 14. Y Y

A restraining mechanisml comprising a cylindrical member 16 (Fig. 3) is provided with a mounting bracket 17 by which it is adapted t0 be secured-to the under side of the frame 1 through the agency of a plural-v ity of bolts 18. A helical or coil spring 19 is disposed in the cylinder 16, and contact plates 20 each having an annular locating boss 21 are disposed in the ends of the spring to respectively constitute seating portions for the arms 22 ot a pivot link or yoke 22a,

directly 'above' ing the yoke 22a, and the expanded ends of the member 22a are adapted to engage the block 14C yof the end motor, as shown in Fig. 1. The contacting ends of the pivot `yoke arms 22 are provided with linersV 27 of material possessing durable wearing qualities, such as manganese alloy, yto prevent abnormal wearing of their Vengaging portions.

Engagement of the arms 22 with the block 14 is such as to permit relative vertical movement of the motorwithout bending or distorting the. restraining mechanism, andY the connection of the block 14 with the trunnion 13 permits of rotative movement of the motor, which further .prevents binding or strain on the pivot yoke arms 22.

The restraining` device is associated with .both the front and the rear motor of the vehicle to provide relative steering action,

between the-vehicle bodyand axles; and the function of -tlie mechanism is such that when thrust is exerted on the wheelflanges, the vehicle frame isV swung by'virtue of the centrifugal force eXertedthereon, which produces lateral movement of the arms 22 against the coil spring 19. This spring is reacted upon by the motor 10 and the wheel axleht, thus tending to absorb the thrust and maintain equilibrium and proper alinement ofthe wheel axle.

It is evident from the foregoing description of my invention that a yielding restraining` mechanism such as is described herein provides an efiicient and simple means for laterally restraining the vehicle body relative to the wheel axles and rails.

Although I have described a specific embodiment ofiny invention, it will be obvious to thosey skilled in the art that various modifications may be made in the details ,of-construction and the design and proportions of the several cooperating parts, as b v substituting a liquid pressure device in place of the spring element, without departing from the principles herein set forth. I claim as my invention:

Asecured to the vehicle and a co-operating pivot yokeassociated therewith and adapted to slidingly engage said support.

3. rIhe combination with a railway vehicle body, of a plurality of motors therefor, said motors being journalled on tliewheel axles,

and a yielding restraining mechanism comprising a resilient member secured to the vehicle body, a guide block pivotally mounted on the motor frames and a pivot yoke cor-operatively engaging said resilient member andv said guide block. l

4. The combination with a railway vehicle body of a motor journalled on a drivingl axle, and a yielding restraining mechanism comprising a resilient member secured to the vehicle body, a guide block pivotally mounted on the motor frame, and a pivot yoke co-operatively engaging said resilient member and said guide block.`

5. In a railway vehicle, a lateral. restrain-v ing device comprising a cylindrical member, a helical spring within said member, contact plates in the ends of said c ylindrical member, said plates being adapted to confine the spring within the cylinder and to serve as bearing plates, `and a pivoted link in Aengagement with said bearing plates-and adapted to engage the supporting structure of the vehicle. Y

6. In a railway vehicle, a'lateral restrain-A ing device comprisingv a yoke having parallel arms at each end pivoted to the vehicle body, a resilient member secured to the vehicle body and adapted to be engaged by the arms at one end of the yoke, and a trunnionon the vehicle truck adapted to be engaged and laterally restrained by the arms at tbe other end of the yoke.

In testimony whereof, I have hereuntosubscribed my namethis 4th day of February, 1924.

` FRANK L. ALBEN. 

